A new way to grow agriculture in Mozambique

Tropical greenhouse technology has the potential to increase productivity. By helping small commercial farmers gain access to greenhouses, iDE is introducing a new farming method that could increase incomes across the value chain.

Why we’re here—

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with over 65 percent of its population earning less than $2 a day. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture, but agriculture makes up only 29 percent of the country’s GDP, due to the majority of farming activities being poor, subsistence-level crop and livestock raising. Combined with one of the worst literacy rates in Africa and one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infections, Mozambique’s population is ready for real change.

Paying It Forward

Fernando Milambo stands proudly in his abundant cabbage field. iDE began working with Fernando in 2013, providing knowledge and tools that helped him increase his vegetable production. Today, he is a Farm Business Advisor, helping other farmers grow their businesses.

(Photo David Graham/iDE)

What matters—

Gender Equity

The common perception in Mozambique is that it is more important to educate a boy than a girl. This leads to more early marriages (over half of girls are married by age 18), resulting in fewer opportunities for girls and women, who are expected to perform more of the domestic work than men.

By focusing on women as customers and entrepreneurs, iDE strengthens their participation in rural value chains and increases their access to technology, know-how, finance, and markets.

Nutrition

Malnutrition in Mozambique is high (43 percent of children under five) due to a lack of diversity in diets, poor breastfeeding practices, high levels of disease, and a high rate of teenage pregnancy. Particularly of concern are chronic deficiencies in Vitamin A and iron for children under five.

iDE empowers farmers to grow different, more nutritious crops, so that people have a more varied diet, fueling them with the energy and mental ability they need to be successful.

Food Security

Flooding from excessive rains and cyclones is a recurrent problem, resulting in damage to infrastructure and agricultural production. Disaster conditions compound acute food shortages, leading to the sale of productive assets such as working livestock.

iDE enhances farmers’ yields through access to technology, products, and knowledge, enabling them to sell affordable, nutritious food to local communities.

Resilience to Climate Change

With its long coastline, over 22 million people (85 percent of the population) in Mozambique live in coastal areas that are threatened by sea-level rise and climate extremes. In the last decades, severe climate hazards including droughts, floods, and cyclones have resulted in several disaster conditions.

iDE helps people in rural areas build their resilience to climate extremes like floods and drought through the use of climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices.

Bridging the design gap between the developed and developing worlds

Understanding that small-scale farming families have severe resource limitations, iDE works to help minimize the pressure on labor, income, water, and energy by identifying and re-designing technologies existing at the intersection of these four resources, which can have a life-changing impact on struggling farmers.

Promoting modern agricultural practices in Mozambique

Farm business advisors are change agents who dispense information about best practices in technology, fertilizers, pest management, and post-harvest storage through training sessions and demonstrations, as well as sell direct services, such as crop spraying.

What works—

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Agriculture

iDE is implementing its FBA model in Mozambique to promote resource-smart technologies such as drip systems, pumps, and post-harvest storage. We identify, train, and provide support to village-based agents who can bring high-quality agricultural products to small-scale farmers. iDE has established Agribusiness Service Centers to support these agents with market links to suppliers and buyers, building their business acumen and encouraging their development as entrepreneurs.

Access to Finance

Because farmers, advisors, and dealers are often not eligible for credit from Mozambican finance institutions, iDE created a “revolving fund,” which facilitates in-kind loans for inputs, equipment, and services (with a processing fee of up to 15 percent to cover costs and logistics). iDE collaborates with clients to demonstrate the return on investment for applications to use funds from the revolving fund. In 2016, iDE became a partner with microfinance institution Kiva, to provide another option besides the revolving fund for farmers to access credit. We are continually investigating other unique loan products that work for small-commercial farmers to grow their businesses.